Chakwera to contest: Plot to destabilise MCP convention exposed

The race to the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidency has reached an exciting time with news that former president of Assemblies of God Rev Dr Lazarus Chakwera and former Chief justice Lovemore Munlo have been shortlisted to run.

Party delegates and district chairperson who spoke to Nyasa Times Thursday night said they were tipped that Chakwera is going to run.

There were fears that Chakwera –considered one of the formidable candidates – would be barred by underhand politics.

But MCP sources said he was in the race.

Chakwera and his close aides were paying a vigil last night on his candidature.

Rev Chakwela: In it

There has been a mixed reaction from MCP candidates following the party’s decision to shortlist aspirants to compete for the top position at the forthcoming election to be conducted from August 9-11 this month at the Natural Resources College.

In an interview with Nyasa Times, the retired Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo said: “I am not in the convention committee and I can’t decide who will stand or not and mind you, with whom I am and my status I cannot comment on that.”

Among those to contest are the party’s Secretary General Chris Daza, former Farmers Union of Malawi President Felix Jumbe and former party administrator Jodder Kanjere.

Jumbe stold Nyasa Times: “In every job you apply for, you expect to be shortlisted or not, if you are not short listed there is no way you can force yourself into the system because they always go for those who are eligible and if you are not then it’s okay.”

Plan to disturb

Meanwhile, Nyasa Times reporters in Lilongwe deployed to cover the convention filed that Lilongwe Director of Youth in MCP Wyson Soko says he has come across a plan orchestrated by a bodyguard of the MCP leader John Tembo, ––William Phakamisa–– to cause havoc during the Friday’s party convention in the capital Lilongwe.

Soko told Nyasa Times on Thursday that he has received reports that Phakamisa held a secret meeting on Wednesday night with over 20 young men in the Capital Lilongwe where they resolved to arm themselves with panga knives and start violence during the convention once the situation go against Tembo.

“We have received reports that Phakamisa met the boys and agreed to disrupt the convention so that it should be postponed to a later date. Now we as MCP youths are on alert and will not allow that to happen,” said Soko.

Soko said has a long list of the young men who attended the meeting saying some of them included, Patrick Moyo, Saweruzika and Molesi Layton.

He warned Phakamisa not to dare executing his plan because “he would regret his actions”.

“He should remember that he is still serving a suspended sentence he was given for smashing a vehicle former MCP official Abel Kayembe (now Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs) in 2011. Body guards should be sticking to their jobs not interfering with political affairs,” he said.

Kayembe also complained to Nyasa Times that his role as a director of youth has been sidelined throughout convention preparatory activities for unknown reasons saying instead it is the Secretary General who has been doing everything concerning the youths.